Ealing Council is exploring membership of the Cooperative Council's Innovation Network, a non-political organisation that offers support with funding projects, achieving goals and standards, and improving engagement in local government matters. The move follows a recommendation from its Housing and Environment Scrutiny Panel, which discussed the potential benefits during a meeting on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. The panel also reviewed its work programme for 2026/2027, agreeing to further investigate joining the network.
Councillor Wheeler proposed Ealing's investigation into the network, highlighting the success of Westminster City Council as a member. Westminster has achieved a C1 rating from the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) and has reportedly benefited from the network in areas of genuine resident empowerment, citizens as equal partners in designing public services, and a shared sense of responsibility for well-being.
The Cooperative Council's Innovation Network aims to shift away from a top-down approach to governance, empowering residents to have a greater input and take charge of policy development. While Westminster's involvement with the network is cited as beneficial, the specific innovations that directly led to their C1 rating are not explicitly detailed in the meeting notes. However, it is suggested that their Fair and Westminster strategy,
focusing on resident co-production and local partnership models, is a key initiative.
The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) plays a role in assessing social housing performance. A C1 rating is described as the basic level
or a pass,
with an aspiration to go beyond this to a C1 plus
service that residents truly desire. The RSH works with councils, reviewing their improvement plans and potentially conducting re-inspections.
The panel's decision to explore the Cooperative Council's Innovation Network was made during their meeting on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. Further research into the network's benefits and Westminster's track record will be undertaken.
Agenda frontsheet Wednesday 14-Oct-2026 19.00 Housing and Environment Scrutiny Panel Public reports pack Wednesday 14-Oct-2026 19.00 Housing and Environment Scrutiny Panel